Improvement in seeding-machines



1. D. SMWH.

Corn-Planter i Patented Aug. 31,1358,

No. 21,375 Y i N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D c.

" UNITED STATES JOSEPH D. SMITH, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEEDING-MACHINES.

Specification forming prt ot' Letters Patent No. 21,375, dated August 31, 1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. SMITH, of Lancaster, in the county ot' Fairteld and State ot' Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Seedin g-Machine.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, maltinga part of this specit iication, in which- Figure l is a side sectional elevation of my invention, taken in the line uw, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken in the lineg/y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa plan ortop view of the same.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates toaneW and improved machine for planting maize or corn and other seed in check-rows.

The invention consists in the combination of a peculiar seed-distributing device and a device for forming the necessary furrows to receive the seed, with a peculiar arrangement ot' the framing, whereby the device is allowet to conform to the inequalities ofthe ground, and the seed-distributing portion elevated free from the ground, when desired, as in moving from place to place or in turning at the ends of rows, Ste.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents an axle, having a wheel, B B, at each end, and O is a drivers seat, which is secured on the axle A at aboutits center.

D is a frame, to the l'ront end ot' which the draft-pole E is attached. To the back end ot' the frame D the axle A is attached by a forked bar F. The front end of this bar is attached to a hinge, a, the upper or outer plate ot' which is attached, by a single bolt, b, to the center ot' the back cross-piece, c, ot' frame D, said bolt passing through the center ot' the outer plate of the hinge. This hinge a forms, it will be seen, a universal-joint connection between the axle A and the traine D.

On the frame D longitudinal bars G are placed,one near each end, and secured by screwboltsf, and to the under sides of' the frame D V-shaped framesH are attached by screw-bolts d. The frames H are attached to the frame D at their back ends by separate screw-bolts, d; but their front ends are secured by the same bolts,f, that pass through the front cross-piece, g, of the frame D.

On each bar G a hopper, I, is placed, and a slide, J, is placed on each bar G, said slides working underneath the hoppers I I. These slides are each formed otl two parts, h t', and are notched, as shown at jj, a ledge or ear, 7.", being formed on the back ,end ot' each part h t', through which a screw, Z, passes, and by which the size of the notches may be regulated as desired.

To the under side ot1 each bar G a seed-tube, K, is attached, said tubes communicating each with an opening', Z', in 4the bars G, over which openings the slides J work. In each tube K a valve, L, is placed, said valves being pivoted at their centers and having their upper ends attached to their respective seed-slides, as

shown at m. (See Figs. l and 2.)

The bars G and frames H may be attached to the frame D, nearer together or farther apart, by having a series ot' holes made through the back and front cross-bars, c g, so that the screw-bolts d and j' may be passed through either of them, as may be desired. Y In each V-shaped frame H two circular cutters or shares, M M, are placed. These cutters or sha-res are placed relatively in oblique positions with each other, so that their front edges a short distance below the axes will touch, the back edges ot' the cutters or shares being distended, as shown clearly in Fig.

On the back part ot'each bar G a bent lever, N, is placed, said levers being connect-ed at one end to the slides J by connecting-rods a, and' the opposite ends being connected by rods o to a lever, O, titted in the frame D.

I) is a b ar, which is placed longitudinally and centrally on the frame D. The back end of this ba-r is connected by strapspp to arms q q 'on a shaft, Q, which is placed below the seat G, and has a lever or handle, R, attached.

To the back end ot' the bar P a chain, S, is attached, said chain being connected to a hook, r, on seat O. Y

The operation is as follows: As the machine is drawn along the rotating cutters or shares M form the necessary furrows to receive the seed,thecntterspenetratingorcutting through weeds and insuring a perfect furrow, the fur row being produced by the Obliquity ot' the cutters or shares, which also serve as a sortot' chamber to insure the proper dropping ofthe seed. The operator grasps the lever O, and tributed, the frame D is raised by turning the moves it at the proper time to actuate the slides J and valves L, thelatter dividing the seedtubes into two equal compartments, which alternately receive the seed from the holes j, and from the lower` ends of which the seed is alternately discharged, said valves causing the seed to be discharged from points nearer the ground, and thereby insuring its proper distribution at desired spots. The Wheels B cover the seed, and the frame D and the axle A being connected, as shown, they are allowed a movement independent of each other, and both the parts named are allowed to conform to the inequalities ofA the ground. In case the machine is to be removed from place to place, or,

lin other eases, when the seed is not to be disshaft Q, the lever or handle R being retained by a spring-catch, T.

I do not claim broadly the employment of two Wheels for opening the furrow, the seed being dropped between the -Wheels; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement and combination of the spout K, wheels M, frame H, and frame D, as and for the purposes herein showniand described. A

JOSEPH D. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. A. BoPE, ALFRED MCVEIGH. 

